Cost of Living Comparison Between Plovdiv and Varna Cost of Living Comparison Between Plovdiv and Varna

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,102 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,189 in Varna, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,712 per month in Plovdiv vs $1,839 in Varna, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,321 per month in Plovdiv vs $2,489 in Varna, rent included.

Plovdiv is about 7% cheaper than Varna, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Plovdiv and Varna are more affordable than the global median – Plovdiv 18% lower, Varna 11% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.70 BGN 14.47

$11.58 BGN 19.26

-24.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.28 BGN 78.7

$46.66 BGN 77.6

1.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.69 BGN 14.46

$8.68 BGN 14.43

0.12%

Cappuccino

$2.49 BGN 4.15

$2.58 BGN 4.30

-3.49%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.49 BGN 2.48

$1.82 BGN 3.03

-18.13%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 BGN 1.51

$1.28 BGN 2.13

-28.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.99 BGN 4.97

$2.88 BGN 4.79

3.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 BGN 4.88

$3.02 BGN 5.03

-2.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 BGN 3.02

$1.88 BGN 3.14

-3.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 BGN 1.78

$1.08 BGN 1.79

-0.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 BGN 3.51

$2.44 BGN 4.06

-13.52%

Eggs

$3.40 BGN 5.66

$3.30 BGN 5.48

3.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.61 BGN 19.31

$11.00 BGN 18.30

5.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.95 BGN 13.22

$8.46 BGN 14.08

-6.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.02 BGN 19.99

$12.26 BGN 20.40

-1.96%

Apples (1kg)

$1.50 BGN 2.49

$1.66 BGN 2.77

-9.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 BGN 2.93

$2.13 BGN 3.54

-17.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 BGN 2.76

$1.85 BGN 3.08

-10.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.48 BGN 4.12

$2.79 BGN 4.64

-11.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.02 BGN 1.70

$1.19 BGN 1.98

-14.29%

Onion (1kg)

$1.14 BGN 1.90

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 BGN 1.82

$1.03 BGN 1.71

5.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.77 BGN 1.28

$0.70 BGN 1.16

10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.61 BGN 6.01

$3.76 BGN 6.26

-3.99%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.07 BGN 10.11

$9.12 BGN 15.16

-33.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.04 BGN 1.73

$1.16 BGN 1.92

-10.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.80 BGN 2.99

$1.92 BGN 3.19

-6.25%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 BGN 1.00

$1.20 BGN 2.00

-50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.44 BGN 47.32

$29.96 BGN 49.84

-5.07%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.16 BGN 1.93

$1.39 BGN 2.31

-16.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 BGN 1.09

$0.71 BGN 1.17

-7.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$10.48 BGN 17.44

$12.51 BGN 20.80

-16.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.50 BGN 2.50

$1.51 BGN 2.51

-0.66%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$31.9K BGN 53.1K

$31.7K BGN 52.7K

0.80%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.7K BGN 47.8K

$28.7K BGN 47.7K

0.21%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$97.8 BGN 163

$125 BGN 208

-21.61%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$18.10 BGN 30.11

$19.16 BGN 31.87

-5.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$15.31 BGN 25.47

$15.85 BGN 26.37

-3.41%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$37.70 BGN 62.7

$40.38 BGN 67.2

-6.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.69 BGN 24.44

$14.52 BGN 24.15

1.17%

Cinema Ticket

$8.96 BGN 14.90

$9.11 BGN 15.16

-1.65%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$425 BGN 706

$400 BGN 666

6.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,126 BGN 11.9K

$5,515 BGN 9,174

29.22%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 BGN 102

$60.2 BGN 100

2.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.35 BGN 58.8

$33.44 BGN 55.6

5.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$98.1 BGN 163

$92.6 BGN 154

5.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$106 BGN 176

$100 BGN 167

5.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 BGN 802

$515 BGN 857

-6.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 BGN 558

$391 BGN 650

-14.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$816 BGN 1,357

$907 BGN 1,508

-10.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$609 BGN 1,013

$646 BGN 1,075

-5.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,299 BGN 3,824

$3,420 BGN 5,690

-32.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,556 BGN 2,589

$2,147 BGN 3,572

-27.52%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,160 BGN 1,929

$1,196 BGN 1,989

-3.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.49

4.71

-4.67%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Plovdiv: June 2, 2026

Last update for Varna: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Plovdiv versus $515 in Varna. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 3% higher in Varna, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $47.00 in Plovdiv versus $47.00 in Varna. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $238 vs $253 – making Plovdiv the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Plovdiv vs Varna: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,102 in Plovdiv, $1,189 in Varna – roughly 8% apart. Varna costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,654 per month in Plovdiv and $1,783 in Varna. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Plovdiv, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 5% less in Plovdiv. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $425 per month in Plovdiv and $400 in Varna. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Plovdiv, where all-in costs run around $1,102, than in Varna at $1,189. In Plovdiv it covers expenses comfortably, while in Varna it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Varna has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,102 in Plovdiv to $1,189 in Varna. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Plovdiv. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Varna makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.